Steerable light diffusing catheter

• US 5,454,794 A
• Filed: 10/15/1993
• Issued: 10/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PDT Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PDT Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Anderson, Steven C., Narciso, Hugh L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US08/138,134
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 604/95, 604/280, 604/101, 606/7, 606/96, 606/2, 606/3, 606/10-16, 606/191-194
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/24 with a catheter A61B18/26, A61B18/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22051 with an inflatable part, e.g. balloon, for positioning, blocking, or immobilisation A61B2017/22048, A61B2017/3486 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2261 with scattering, diffusion or dispersion of light
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0019 operated at only one temperature whilst inside or touching the human body, e.g. constrained in a non-operative shape during surgery, another temperature only occurring before the operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0105 Steering means as part of the catheter or advancing means; Markers for positioning systems for detection of markers A61B
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/0133 Tip steering devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/104 used for angioplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/061 Bladder and/or urethra
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent

Abstract

A steerable catheter is disclosed which can treat luminal surfaces such as those occurring in the vascular tree, pulmonary tree, gastrointestinal tract, urological organs, etc. with Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) or other optical diffusing treatments. The catheter, which may include an inflatable balloon portion, has a light diffusing tip which can be deflected allowing the catheter to be steered precisely. The light diffusing tip on the steerable catheter is able to gain access to and enter virtually any sub-branch of the luminal system being treated. Since this catheter does not require a guidewire lumen for insertion, the profile is reduced. A low profile device allows treatment light to be delivered to the walls of the most distal, small diameter lumen.

Claims

1. An intraluminal catheter for delivering light energy from a source of optical energy to a tissue undergoing optical energy treatment, or receiving an optical signal from tissue, said light energy being delivered in a uniform cylindrical pattern, said catheter comprising:

(a) A tubular body portion having a first proximal end and a first distal end;

(b) An optically transmissive member coextensive with at least a portion of said body portion, said optically transmissive member terminating at said first distal end of said body portion;

(c) A flexible cylindrical light diffusing tip having a second proximal end attached to a said first distal end of said body portion in optical communication with said optically transmissive member, and a second distal end having a cap attached thereto;

(d) Means for coupling said light energy from said source of optical energy into said optically transmissive member;

(e) A tip deflection means extended from said end and terminating in a controlling device, wherein said controlling device is positioned between said light diffusing tip and said means for coupling light energy from said source of optical energy into said optically transmissive member;

(f) An optically transparent inflatable balloon enveloping at least a portion of said light diffusing tip;

(g) Means for inflating said inflatable balloon.

2. The catheter of claim 1 where the said optically transmissive member is a single optical fiber.

3. The catheter of claim 1 where the said optically transmissive member is a plurality of fiber optics.